Works of the fleshGalatians 5:19-21 Fruit of the SpiritGalatians 5:22-23 Sexual immoralityDavid committed adultery with Uriah’s wife LoveDavid repented, loved God sincerely. 2 Sam. 11 Impurity, debauchery A prodigal son lived wastefully and lusted JoyThe prodigal son found joy when he repented. Luke 15:11-3 IdolatryEzra’s people sought peace from idols PeaceEzra helped his people find peace in God. Ezra 9 HatredSaul (a.k.a. Paul) hated … [Read more...]
Works of the Flesh Compared with Fruit of the Spirit Citing Biblical Examples
September 20, 2012 by 1 Comment
A Call to Clergy to Repent of Failing to Release God’s Gifted Shepherds
September 20, 2012 by 1 Comment
           Martin Luther posted a list of 95 discussion points on the Wittenberg church door for a shocked town to read, touching off the Protestant Reformation that transformed European civilization. Luther’s main thrust was to remove obstacles to the free flow of God’s grace, using Scripture and faith to open heaven’s floodgates.            Five centuries later, some pastors and denominational leaders, especially in older churches, put man-made policies first, … [Read more...]
Jesus Tests Believers’ Works by Fire at Heaven’s Gate
September 20, 2012 by 1 Comment
Based on Num. 31: 1-23 and 1 Cor. 3: 11-15 POY! SKIT GUIDELINES: In a small group, participants might simply read their lines, or glance at their lines to get the idea so they can speak in their own words. Most POY! skits require no practice in advance. Have any small children play a brief part. Most scripts have an optional part for children, listed last under Participants. Most scripts have a Narrator who should read the script beforehand to see how to keep moving the story along. It is not … [Read more...]
Paul Urges Philemon to Free a Slave
September 20, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Based on Paul’s letter Philemon POY! SKIT GUIDELINES: In a small group, participants might simply read their lines, or glance at their lines to get the idea so they can speak in their own words. Most POY! skits require no practice in advance. Have any small children play a brief part. Most scripts have an optional part for children, listed last under Participants. Most scripts have a Narrator who should read the script beforehand to see how to keep moving the story along. It is not … [Read more...]
A Samaritan Shows Kindness to a Hurting Enemy
September 19, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Based on Luke 10: 25-37Â POY! SKIT GUIDELINES: In a small group, participants might simply read their lines, or glance at their lines to get the idea so they can speak in their own words. Most POY! skits require no practice in advance. Have any small children play a brief part. Most scripts have an optional part for children, listed last under Participants. Most scripts have a Narrator who should read the script beforehand to see how to keep moving the story along. It is not necessary … [Read more...]
Jesus Told Peter How Much to Forgive, and Showed him
September 19, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Based on Matthew 18; John 18Â POY! SKIT GUIDELINES: In a small group, participants might simply read their lines, or glance at their lines to get the idea so they can speak in their own words. Most POY! skits require no practice in advance. Have any small children play a brief part. Most scripts have an optional part for children, listed last under Participants. Most scripts have a Narrator who should read the script beforehand to see how to keep moving the story along. It is not … [Read more...]
Believers in Jerusalem Name Deacons to Serve the Needy
September 19, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Based on Acts 6:1-7Â POY! SKIT GUIDELINES: In a small group, participants might simply read their lines, or glance at their lines to get the idea so they can speak in their own words. Most POY! skits require no practice in advance. Have any small children play a brief part. Most scripts have an optional part for children, listed last under Participants. Most scripts have a Narrator who should read the script beforehand to see how to keep moving the story along. It is not necessary to … [Read more...]
Give Care to Troubled Persons and Families
September 18, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Excerpted from Come Quickly, Dawn, by George Patterson Teach these general, basic guidelines for non-professional member care, to shepherds of new cells and congregations.    1.   Let God’s light shine on the problem. Ask Him to make His Presence known and to bring His power to bear. Some ills yield only to Jesus’ miraculous touch.    2.   Listen until a problem’s root is apparent. The real issue is seldom one’s first complaint. Family conflict is rarely … [Read more...]
Integrate Mercy Ministry and Church Planting
September 18, 2012 by Leave a Comment
George Patterson Coworkers and I discovered these guidelines while working in undeveloped areas of Honduras. 1.    Let believers do what their gifting leads them to do. Most pastors and church planters make poor administrators of mercy work, and most mercy workers made poor administrators of pastoral training and church planting. Therefore, do not always ask the same person to administrate both; two administrators can integrate both ministries by harmonizing them as 1 Corinthians … [Read more...]
Salt of the Earth
September 18, 2012 by 1 Comment
Encourage believers to serve as “salt of the earth†and “light of the world†as Jesus said, with this compelling example of 19-century English Evangelicals (cited from The Call to Seriousness: The Evangelical Impact on the Victorians by Ian C. Bradley [New York: Macmillan Publishing Co, 1976]). 19th century English Evangelicals… Ended the British slave trade, Abolished sati (burning widows) in India, Abolished infant sacrifice in India, Banned child labor and … [Read more...]